Is there a speed limit in open sea?

Question

Is there a speed limit in open sea?

Answer 1

NO

Answer 2

after 3 miles (as far as I know) from land you are in International Waters - then it's anyone's ball game (or cricket match)

Answer 3

Not on the 'high seas'. Only common sense and experience lay down any such restriction.

Answer 4

No but I wouldn't travel far or fast in the Ocean, Sea or Gulf.

Answer 5

Capt. Bill T is accurate as far as a "speed limit", which in essence means that there is no posted speed but it requires you to be at a speed that allows you to maintain safe control of your vessel. In reading some of the other responses I thought that I would try to help define International Waters.

Most countries recognize International Waters to be 12 miles from the "low tide" waterline. This distance was first established because (at the time of inception) it was as far as any large guns on a ship could reach shore. This was accepted mostly as a means of a country being able to defend itself from attack from others. Some have mentioned a 200 mile limit and that is in regards to economic or scientific use or testing. There are many countries that argue the actual enforcement or ability to claim such ie: China drilling for oil off the coast of Florida etc.. The 3 mile reference is based more on International Waterways and specific Regional Agreements. Also for the record all of these  are measured  in Nautical miles.

Answer 6

there is no 'speed limit' per say.  

But according to the 72 Col-Regs - Rule 6, which all vessels at sea have to operate by:

Every vessel shall at all times proceed at a safe speed so that she can take proper and effective action to avoid collision and be stopped within a distance appropriate to the prevailing circumstances and conditions.

edit -

"Inland Waters" means the navigable waters of the United States shoreward of the navigational demarcation lines dividing the high seas from harbors, rivers and other inland waters of the United States and the waters of the Great Lakes on the United States side of the International Boundary.

International regs apply outside the demarcation lines.  

The rule for safe speed applies to both inland and international waters.

Answer 7

only 3 miles from land except for cruise liners or other publically used water transport due to health and safety etc, once 3 miles from land there arent any laws persay, obviously if a goverment suspects you of drug trafficking or smuggling immigrants etc then they will stop and prosecute you but other than that your free to speed, free to snort as many drugs as you want aslong as you dont plan on taking them into a country and even free to have your own pirate radio station your not really bound by any law apart from the odd internation law loophole. also there are many rivers with no speed limits

Answer 8

No, but a speed limit is enforced when a ship enters a harbour

Answer 9

i think its very unlikely ...its not like some is going to chase you for speeding

Answer 10

Not "per se", ( the proper spelling of the expression), but you must take regard of others, on the surface and below, I.E. marine life, such as whales,before proceeding to speed, you as the faster vessel, are responsible, for collission avoidance measures, because of your greater distance covered, in a given amount of time,and the capacity to quickly alter course,  and will be held accountable under international law.

Answer 11

The only limit is how fast you can, or dare, to go.

There are many lakes that do not have a speed limit.

Answer 12

Depends on how far out you are.Our Coast Guard would enforce such laws up to a point. Maybe even 200 miles out to sea.

Answer 13

Einstein says that you can't go faster than the speed of light.

Answer 14

unlikely. who would enforce it?

Answer 15

yes in certain areas there are, like if your near a listed sea wreck, or bathing areas, or places of natual beauty, but in open sea no

Answer 16

Nope. Go as fast as you dare in the prevailing conditions as long as you can stop within half the visibility distance.

Answer 17

If you're in international waters then very unlikely